Software Firewall question for Geeks?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey folks,

I'm no novice around computers. I helped an older coworker setup her home Wireless internet access with her new laptop running VISTA HOME BASIC....yuck!

I uninstalled her trial version of McAfee security suite.....YUCK!

Then installed Spybot S&D, Zone Alarm Free, and AVAST home...all free security programs for her.

Was able to access internet just fine via WLAN.

But recently had problems, computer was seeing Router/modem, but wouldn't access Internet. Finally figured out it was the ZA firewall program. SO..I uninstalled it. I remember seeing a warning when installing it about possible incompatibility with AVAST, but it seemed to work okay at first??

ANYWAYS....did a search and found another FREE firewall program, fairly new in it's design/programming....but I recognize the name from some time back....COMODO.

Can any of you geeks recommend any other FREE software firewall that is similar in functionality and ease of use to ZA's??

Thanks in advance!
T.C.

[Bigfoot]

I have never used Avast or Comodo. I use Zone Alarm and Spybot and both are excellent programs. On some pc's I use AVG free for antivirus. Never had a problem with any of them conflicting. If you have a decent router it should have a hardware firewall built in. Hardware firewalls are almost always superior to software firewalls and really should be sufficient protection along with an antivirus and antispyware program. You really should be able to do away with a software firewall with no problems.

[Incubus]

FWIW, TC, my son graduated from St. Edwards University in May (whoopee) with a BS in computer network administration. He immediately got a job running the network for company that provides business-to-business secure financial transactions, like Paypal for B2B.

That's all to set up his bonafides, like they do with expert witnesses in criminal trials.

Anyway, he installed Comodo on all my home computers. He said it is the best thing out there for free. He used to say that about ZA.

Spend that two cents any way you want.

Patrick

[olebiker]

Avast is what I suggest to all my customers. The firewall in the router is all she likely needs although some people run a software firewall as well.

[Custom791100]

wooohoooo

ok well i graduated with a degree in this and just got a job doing this super excited anyways i am currently running zone alarm pro if you know what your doing you can get it with out paying for it but i am not saying its right anyways free zone alarm is just as good.......are you sure that you didnt accidently deny the access to the internet via the program control in zone alarm i have done that a few time and was able to see router but no internet........and on 10 ten reviews Zone Alarm is still number 1 actually Gold......if you google top 10 reviews you will find the site.....i hope that helped if i didnt i am sorry just my 3 cents.....

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Patrick,

Thanks for the confirmation about the NEW Comodo program. I went ahead and D/L'd and installed it and it worked just fine.

Custom, I had done the diagnostics that ZA suggested, setting it to NOT load on startup and the Internet worked. I checked the program settings, and IE7 was given full Internet permissions, just no SERVER, but it wouldn't work/connect.

Allegedly ZA is working with AVAST to determine why there is a conflict and fix it, but I couldn't wait!

I still have and use the ZA home/free version on both of my laptops and desktop system, along with AVAST and have no problem!

Anyways, thanks for the info folks!
Happy Computing!
T.C.

[Custom791100]

hmmmm

ok well ZA better fix that issue there product is solid and i dont think i will ever switch

[eroellig]

Re: hmmmm

Originally posted by Custom791100
ok well ZA better fix that issue there product is solid and i dont think i will ever switch

I used to think that ZA was golden..... until it filled up with BLOAT!!!. Even the free version. The responsiveness of my computers (and the ones that I administer for friends) goes WAY down once ZA is loaded on. They keep on adding scanners, monitors, scanners for the monitors, monitors for the scanners, etc..... WAY OUT OF CONTROL!!!. For now, I've actually switched to the built in firewall that comes with XP.

I'll look into Comodo for my Windoz boxen.

For Anti-Virus, I used to use Norton. Total BLOATWARE now. I've been using AVG, but they are also starting down the BLOATWARE path.

Increasinly, I'm running Linux boxes. I picked up a scratch & dent HP media center on eBay a couple of years ago. It hasn't even had Windoz loaded on it since it got here... I've been running Fedora Core 6, but am about to upgrade to the recently release Fedory 9. For a printer, I got a networked (plugs into the home ethernet, NOT a USB port) HP all-in-one. That allows >all< my home computers to connect to it and print, send faxes, etc...

Like most of the 100% open source distributions, Fedora can be a bit anoying when having to separately track down and load anything with propriatary CODECs (both video and audio), but regardless, I am slowly turning into a FOSS (Free & Open Source) zelot. My home network is slowly starting to resemble a corporate system. Once I get a couple of wiz bang switches, I'll morph it even closer to a corporate flavor. My "router/firewall" is a specilized Linix disro called IP Cop. It is totally sripped down and runs a firewall & other security related software. The cheap commercial Netgear firewall box I got would drop its connection anywhere from 12=72 hours and make me reset the @%$#% thing. IP Cop is happy to run on an OLD computer I had lying around and is as steady as a ROCK. Plus I get neat reports like graphs of internet usage, reports of intrusion detection events (reading them will scare you to DEATH, the internet is a wild place).

I realize that what I do is way beyond what most of you can handle on your own, but there are more & more linux distros that are VERY easy for most people to install. There are several that have a live CD or DVD version that you can download, burn to a CD or DVD and boot it off your CD/DVD drive and take it for a spin without disturbing your existing Windows installation. (and its FREE!!!!) AND you don't have to muck around with ZA and the like

Eric

[malber]

Doesn't the router come with its own firewall?

[nubee]

Hey TC,

I had ZA back in the dial up days and liked it then. I use Comodo now and like it. Be sure to use the latest version, the older version is a bit of a resource hog.

[nubee]

Hey eroellig,

I have a mini-itx running Xandros. I do all of my secure stuff(banking, shopping,etc) on it. I was told Xandros was the easiest Linux to install for complete novice such as myself. My other computer is an off the shelf HP running Windows du jour. It's my play toy (backed up often).

I have a friend who tired of Windows insecurities. What flavor of Linux would you recommend for him, or me for that matter

[Custom791100]

hmmm i havent had a problem with my ZA hogging resources or anything well anyways i wouldnt use windows firewall just me...but whatever you choose anything has gotta be better than nothing

[olebiker]

There is nothing wrong with windows firewall but if you are not behind a router you will need something more.

[Incubus]

I've had several issues with Windows Firewall and software conflicts. It wouldn't let me network my computers without serious screwing around. It wouldn't let me run Synergy and let my laptop run the computer my son rigged for a homemade DVR. It had issues with the antivirus.

It think it sucks. JMHO.

Patrick

[olebiker]

I am sorry to hear that I have had no network issues. I have no idea what synergy is.